A sputtering offense, one that went 8 for 57 at the plate during the non-conference midweek series against Utah Valley (8-13), frustrated head coach Willie Bloomquist in the non-conference midweek matchup.
The significant rut in run production for Arizona State (10-11) culminated with a 7-5 loss on Wednesday afternoon to the Wolverines and made Bloomquist question his players’ self-accountability.
The Sun Devils went 4-30 (.133) from the plate in the second game of the series and 8-57 (.140) in the series. In only five separate innings did ASU record a hit. The lack of energy was apparent during the afternoon affair as the bats slept through the first six innings of play, with junior first baseman Jacob Tobias ending the no-hit bid in the top of the seventh with a double.
“I can’t do any more than we’re doing,” Bloomquist said. “We are giving them every possible thing we possibly can to accommodate their inability to focus and play. And maybe I’m enabling too much, but at some point, they’ve got to grow up and learn how to play.”
On the defensive side of the ball, three errors hurt Arizona State’s chances to pull off any sort of comeback late in the game like Tuesday’s game. A botched ground ball up the middle and two different pickoff attempts were collected by Sun Devil outfielders as the Wolverines took advantage of the miscues via the long ball.
Utah Valley junior centerfielder Nate Bach cleared the wall in center field with a solo home run in the top of the second inning to give the Wolverines the first runs of the afternoon. This was the second time Utah Valley struck first in the early frames with home runs.
The combination of miscues defensively enabled UVU’s damage to place a large burden on the pitching staff with pitchers throwing more pitches than needed.
In the top of the second inning, an errant throw zipped past junior first baseman Jacob Tobias down the line, bringing the runner around second and into third base. Two pitches later, Utah Valley’s junior left-fielder Jayden Smith scored the run from a sacrifice fly out to center.
The first time through the order for the Sun Devils; no hits. ASU struck out only once but was struggling to barrel up balls in gaps.
“If I knew how to fix it, I would,” Bloomquist said. “We’re talking about, we’re trying to give these guys a simple, clear, clean-cut approach that takes the thought process out of it. A lot of times when you’re scuffling, you’re thinking too much.”
ASU’s junior right-handed pitcher Ryan Schiefer came in to relieve freshman right-handed pitcher Wyatt Halvorson in the top fourth inning with Halvorson’s day being done. Halvorson went three innings and allowed three runs on four hits with four strikeouts.
With inherited runners at second and third, Schiefer lofted a pickoff attempt over the head of ASU’s freshman second baseman Ethan Mendoza and into center field. The next batter, Utah Valley’s senior shortstop Matthew Schwarz, took advantage with an RBI groundout to extend the Wolverine lead.
The second time through the order for the Sun Devils; no hits.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Sun Devils’ third error of the afternoon led to a two-run RBI ground ball through the 5-6 hole. Past two diving Sun Devils, the ball that extended the Wolverine attack to five runs and gave them all the momentum they needed in the game.
Fans stood to their feet in Phoenix Municipal Stadium with the home team being no-hit.
“For me, it’s a lot of focus, I think, and ready to play mentally, has a lot to do with it,” Bloomquist said.
In the bottom of the seventh, ASU tried to burst onto the scene with four runs in the frame from three hits. The lead was cut to one but the Sun Devil momentum never fully took full effect.
Two solo shots, both to left-center field, put Utah Valley up three runs in the top of the ninth and all but exhausted the Sun Devils’ chances. In the series, Utah Valley batted .246 and made ASU pay for the stagnant offensive display.
Frustration boiled over for Arizona State as the final out was made. Following the game, a players-only meeting was called in the clubhouse of Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
“I shouldn’t have to motivate every single day,” Bloomquist said. “At some point in time, you’ve got to look in the mirror and get ready to play. These guys are good kids that care, but it’s like ‘man, come ready to play. Button your chin strap and get ready to go punch someone in the mouth.”
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